MATRIXSYNTH

Plan B Model 23 First Listen

via Peter Grenader on the Plan B list:

"As the Model 23 Analog Shift Register nears design completion, I've posted some sound samples to give you an idea why it's got us sort of excited. Before I do, let me go into a few details on the things about ASR's which I've personally found aggravating:

A) Outputs do not track the input voltage, making driving them with a keyboard problematic.

B) Output taps not tracking one another so that a voltages vary as they are passed down the line of outputs.

C) Incoming clock causing a droop in held voltages at it's falling edge.

I'm glad to say that the Model 23 does none of these things. As the following sound samples indicate, four separate VCOs driven by the (now) four outputs of the ASR track to the quantized input of an envelope generator: asr1.mp3

Same patch, but slower, giving you a clear indication of the uniformity of the voltages as they go down the line of outputs: asr2.mp3

Same patch, at even a slower pace: asr3.mp3

Having a little melodic fun, now with the four VCOs gated through a Model 13: asr4.mp3

Screwing around with the update speed, this time with the M23 sampling quantized random voltages via the Model 24 give the 'classic ASR' effect: asr5.mp3

Design Changes/Improvements:

The M23 now has four independent outputs taps Clock distribution to the four S+H's is now performed by an Atmel 2051 microcontroller. The analog memory (the capacitors) are monolithic laser-trimmed semiconductor junction type. The added expense yields the resolution you're hearing while cutting down on the overall part count.

For more information of the M23, go here.

We will be seeing these along with the other first wave of ELF devices coming in the late Spring/Early Summer."

Dave's Dilema

"Help Dave find a synth for his '80s band, with....

1) awesome sounds both new & vintage, including good organs and pianos
2) budget-minded, bare-bones... like an M3 with no unnecessary features
3) good live gigging interface, ease of patch change and assignable banks, etc.
4) joystick style bender preferred
5) it'd be for live use, it'd be cool if it had architecture set up to make changing sounds quick and easy."

He recently picked up the White VSynth here, but the sound character wasn't what he was looking for. If you have any recommendations, feel free to post in the comments or contact him directly via his site.